Welcome to the Sunday Gathering recap (songs, hymns, liturgy and sermon). This blog gives you an opportunity to reflect on what you heard in the gathering or catch up if you weren’t able to be with us.
*The indented sections are responses read aloud by the congregation during the Gathering
SERVE THE CITY: John 13
CALL TO WORSHIP
Praise the LORD, my soul. I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them he remains faithful for ever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets prisoners free, the LORD gives sight to the blind, the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down, the LORD loves the righteous.
The LORD watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.
The LORD reigns for ever, for all generations. Praise the LORD.
Based on Psalm 146
Song: O For a Thousand Tongues
Song: All Praise to Him
CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE
We've already heard of the generous and compassionate God we have. Bible tells us that He is the giver of every good gift He showers those good gifts down on the world he has made Yet so often we are ungrateful for his gifts We assume that they are things we deserve and have a right to have And instead of using them to love God & love other people. We use them for selfish gain. We are selfish with our time, money, resources and yet God has been so generous towards us. Take a moment to confess to God the ways in which you can be selfish with the gifts God has given you and to reflect on his generosity shown to us in Christ.
Jesus himself tells us:
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45)
God has been generous to us in giving his son to free us and save us from our sin. We are only able to serve others and demonstrate generosity because of the way we have already been served by Christ.
Song: Forgiven
PASSING OF THE PEACE
PREACHING OF THE WORD
Tom Thrower preached from God’s word to us this Sunday as part of our Serve the City gathering from John 13:1-17. Listen to the sermon audio here:
COMMUNION
Every week we want to respond to what God has done for us in Jesus. One of the great ways he has provided for us to remember the truth of the gospel is giving us communion. As we take the bread and wine we remember what Jesus has done for us.
POST COMMUNION READING
Jesus’ death brings us life and this meal reminds us that we are fed by Jesus and forgiven because of Jesus.
We rejoice that You have died, rose again, and are now with the Father advocating for us. Amen.
With our money, time, and talent we give generously, knowing that through Your Son, Jesus, You have generously given to us.
We rejoice that You have given everything and we joyfully give everything back to Your care. Amen.
Song: When I Survey
Song: Man of Sorrows (Oh the Rugged Cross)
COMMITMENT READING
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.
He was in the form of God, but did not count equality with God something to be grasped. He emptied himself, taking on the form of a servant and humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
(Based on Philippians 2:3-8)
Song: Christ is Risen
BENEDICTION
Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
(1 Corinthians 15:58)
Peace be with you.
And also with you.